1. Don’t aim to be “perfect.” Just share your opinion! In the oral exam, there's no such thing as a “perfect answer.” When practicing, I often see students trying too hard to give “correct” points, but their ideas end up sounding plain or boring. The truth is, examiners don’t just mark based on “correctness.” What they want is for you to present your ideas clearly, with good details—don’t waste time trying to come up with “impressive” ideas. A full, well-explained answer is all you need.

2. Keep your thinking simple. Don’t overcomplicate things! Forget about trying to follow rigid structures like, “TS, elab, etc.” every single time. Instead, focus on making your answers clear and natural. For example, if your first point is already solid, use your second or third turn to add more detail, describe something vividly, or share a fun personal story. That’s more than enough to make your answer stand out!

3. Manners matter! Even if you’re nervous, try to look confident and relaxed. 🙏 Sit up straight, make eye contact with the examiner, and smile warmly. A nice smile can go a long way in making the examiner feel good about your performance. When you believe in what you’re saying, it shows! So trust yourself and speak with confidence. 💪

4. Prepare mentally on the exam day. Before the exam, I recommend listening to a related podcast or watching a YouTube video. This helps refresh your ideas and gets your brain flowing with phrases for agreeing, disagreeing, or giving examples. Also, read something out loud to warm up your “English-speaking muscles.” It makes a big difference!

5. Warm up at the exam center. When you get to the exam venue, don’t just sit there waiting. Be proactive! Chat with other candidates. Seriously, don’t be shy—it’s a great way to warm up! For example, you can say, “Hey, do you want to practice some English together?” It’s a fun way to prepare and you’ll feel more confident when it’s your turn to speak.

6. Final practice tips. In your last few practices, focus on preparing clear answers for about 80% of the common topics. That way, you’ll have solid ideas ready to go, and you’ll feel more confident walking into the exam.

Good luck! You got this! 🎉 Believe in yourself, and remember: this is YOUR moment to shine. Let’s crush this exam and make it count! 😎